The Competition
In the summer of 2013, Solar Decathlon China took place in Datong, China, hosted by the Chinese National Energy Administration and the U.S. Department of Energy, organized by Peking University, and supported by private companies.
Team Israel (Supervised by Dr. Joseph Cory and Chen Shalita) was the first Israeli team to be accepted to participate in the Solar Decathlon China competition. Team Israel won the 4th place in total (2nd place in the Architecture competition, 1st place in the Hot Water Competition, 1st place in the Energy Balance Competition).
Dubbed the "Olympics of Sustainable Architecture", the Solar Decathlon challenges 20 collegiate teams to design, build, and operate solar-powered houses that are Net Zero Energy Buildings and are affordable, energy-efficient, and attractive. The winner of the competition is the team that best blends cost-effectiveness, consumer appeal, and design excellence with optimal energy production and maximum efficiency.
The competition demonstrates innovation in solar and sustainable architecture and identifies immediately viable technologies. The first Solar Decathlon was held in the United States in 2002. The competition has occured biennially since 2005, with additional competitions in Europe in 2010 and 2012.
Since 2002, the Solar Decathlon has involved over 90 teams and influenced thousands of collegiate participants in interdisciplinary research, design and construction of energy-efficient, solar-powered houses; has attracted hundreds of thousands of visitors; and has reached millions of readers and viewers in markets across the globe.
Links to the Solar Decathlon competitions sites:
